Snorri Goði
Encyclopedia
Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri Goði (ˈstn̥ɔrːɪ ˈkɔðɪ; 963-1031) was a prominent chieftain
in Western Iceland, who featured in a number of Icelandic sagas. The main source of his life is the Eyrbyggja saga
, in which he is the main character, although he also figures prominently in Njál's saga
and the Laxdæla saga. Snorri was the nephew of Gísli Súrsson, the hero of Gísla saga
, while his son Halldórr was the subject of two tales detailing Halldórr's service in the retinue of the Norwegian king Haraldr Sigurðarson.
Eyrbyggja Saga says of him "He was a very shrewd man with unusual foresight, a long memory and a taste for vengeance. To his friends he gave good counsel, but his enemies learned to fear the advice he gave."
Njál's saga says of him "Snorri was reckoned the wisest man in Iceland, not counting those who were prescient".
The main sources of Snorri's life are the semi-historical Icelandic sagas. Historiographically, the distinction between narrative and history did not exist at the time when the sagas were written. However, the sagas develop a "dense and plausible" historical context, with the authenticating details and precision necessary for the narrative. The world within which the local and detailed stories of the individual sagas exist can be confirmed by archaeology and comparison with histories in other languages.
Snorri features prominently in the two sagas which, alongside Egil's saga, make the strongest claim of any Icelandic saga for literary greatness: Njál's saga
and the Laxdæla saga. The Laxdæla saga or Saga of the People of Laxardal was written sometime between 1250 and 1270, possibly by a woman author. "Vast in conception", the grand sweep of the saga's action spans well over a century from AD 890 to 1030. The work is both a family saga and a feud saga, in which "feuds escalate from trivial local squabbles into unstoppable vendettas. The male protagonists are splendid figures who die heroic deaths, while the women are strong characters who engineer much of the action".
Eyrbyggja Saga
was written during the 13th century, and like the other sagas it partly draws on written sources such as Landnámabók
, and other sagas such as Laxdæla saga. One of Snorri's daughters Þuríðr died in 1112 at the age of 88, and was one of the informants for Ari Þorgilsson
, co-author of the first version of Landnámabók.
.
Snorri was fostered by Þorbrandr of Álftafjörðr. When he was fourteen he and his foster brothers travelled to Norway where they traded successfully. Some time after coming back, Snorri demanded his inheritance from his uncle Bork. Bork would not divide Helgafell, and demanded 60 ounces of silver for the whole property. Snorri was able to produce this from his trading profits, and so he bought Helgafell from Bork. Thordis also decided to divorce Bork, and Bork was required to leave Helgafell.
Snorri married Asdis the daughter of Styr, after helping Styr to plan the killing of two Swedish berserks
who were causing trouble for Styr and his family, whilst they were living in Styr's household.
Snorri became involved in further disputes with Arnkell Þórólfsson. This included a property dispute between Arnkel and the Thorbrandssons. He and his foster brothers the Thorbrandssons attacked and killed Arnkel whilst he was working on his farm. In the ensuing court case, only one of the assailants Thorleif Thorbrandsson was sentenced to outlawry. This was blamed on the fact that all of Arnkel's heirs were female. This led to a change in the law that decreed that women (and men under sixteen) could not raise a manslaughter action.
Snorri later sided with the Thorbrandssons in their feud with the Thorlakssons. He took part in the battle of Alftafjord on their side, and rescued them after they were all wounded at the battle of Vigrafjord. A settlement was later reached between the two families.
Snorri also attempted to kill Bjorn Asbrandsson who was the lover of his sister Thurid. She was now married to Thorodd the Tribute Trader, a marriage which Snorri had helped to arrange. Bjorn fended off Snorri's attack, but was convinced to leave Iceland. Thurid's son Kjartan was suspected of being the son of Bjorn rather than Thorodd.
After the killing of Bolli Þorleiksson
by the Olafssons, Snorri and Bolli's widow Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir
agreed to exchange properties so that she moved to Helgafell, and Snorri moved to Saelingsdale Tongue. Snorri later helped to arrange a peace agreement between the Olafssons and Guðrún's sons
.
Snorri also took action over the killing of his father-in-law Styr. The case against the killer was dismissed at the Althing
by Thorstein Gislason. In retaliation, Snorri later killed Thorstein and his son Gunnar. This led to further battles between the kinsmen and allies of the two sides. The dispute was eventually settled at the local assembly.
In his later years Snorri successfully led the fight against Ospak Kjallaksson, a farmer who had assembled a gang who had taken to attacking and robbing his neighbours. Ospak and the other leaders of the gang were killed, and the rest made to disperse. Ospak's son was allowed to inherit his father's farm.
At the Althing which followed the burning of Njáll Þorgeirsson
, Snorri supported Njal's kinsmen. When fighting broke out, Snorri stopped the retreat of Flosi Thordarsson and the other burners. Snorri and the Lawspeaker
Skapti Þóroddsson
, both then got their men to separate the two sides, and so stop the fighting. Afterwards Snorri was one of the men chosen to arrange a settlement between the two parties.
. Snorri's descendents included the Sturlungs
through his son Halldor.
's historical novel The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, written in the early 20th century.
Gothi
A goði or gothi is the Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain. Gyðja signifies a priestess.The name appears in Wulfila's Gothic language translation of the bible as gudja for "priest", but in Old Norse it is only the feminine form gyðja that perfectly corresponds to the Gothic form...
in Western Iceland, who featured in a number of Icelandic sagas. The main source of his life is the Eyrbyggja saga
Eyrbyggja saga
Eyrbyggja saga is one of the Icelanders' sagas. The name means the saga of the inhabitants of Eyrr, which is a farm on Snæfellsnes on Iceland. The name is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans of Þórsnes and Alptafjörðr. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri goði...
, in which he is the main character, although he also figures prominently in Njál's saga
Njál's saga
Njáls saga is one of the sagas of Icelanders. The most prominent characters are the friends Njáll Þorgeirsson, a lawyer and a sage, and Gunnarr Hámundarson, a formidable warrior...
and the Laxdæla saga. Snorri was the nephew of Gísli Súrsson, the hero of Gísla saga
Gísla saga
Gísla saga Súrssonar is one of the Sagas of Icelanders. It tells the story of Gisli, a tragic hero who must kill one of his brothers-in-law to avenge another brother-in-law. Gisli is outlawed and forced to stay on the run for thirteen years before he is finally hunted down and killed...
, while his son Halldórr was the subject of two tales detailing Halldórr's service in the retinue of the Norwegian king Haraldr Sigurðarson.
Eyrbyggja Saga says of him "He was a very shrewd man with unusual foresight, a long memory and a taste for vengeance. To his friends he gave good counsel, but his enemies learned to fear the advice he gave."
Njál's saga says of him "Snorri was reckoned the wisest man in Iceland, not counting those who were prescient".
Background of sources
Snorri features prominently in the two sagas which, alongside Egil's saga, make the strongest claim of any Icelandic saga for literary greatness: Njál's saga
Njál's saga
Njáls saga is one of the sagas of Icelanders. The most prominent characters are the friends Njáll Þorgeirsson, a lawyer and a sage, and Gunnarr Hámundarson, a formidable warrior...
and the Laxdæla saga. The Laxdæla saga or Saga of the People of Laxardal was written sometime between 1250 and 1270, possibly by a woman author. "Vast in conception", the grand sweep of the saga's action spans well over a century from AD 890 to 1030. The work is both a family saga and a feud saga, in which "feuds escalate from trivial local squabbles into unstoppable vendettas. The male protagonists are splendid figures who die heroic deaths, while the women are strong characters who engineer much of the action".
Eyrbyggja Saga
Eyrbyggja saga
Eyrbyggja saga is one of the Icelanders' sagas. The name means the saga of the inhabitants of Eyrr, which is a farm on Snæfellsnes on Iceland. The name is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans of Þórsnes and Alptafjörðr. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri goði...
was written during the 13th century, and like the other sagas it partly draws on written sources such as Landnámabók
Landnámabók
Landnámabók , often shortened to Landnáma, is a medieval Icelandic written work describing in considerable detail the settlement of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries AD.-Landnáma:...
, and other sagas such as Laxdæla saga. One of Snorri's daughters Þuríðr died in 1112 at the age of 88, and was one of the informants for Ari Þorgilsson
Ari Þorgilsson
Ari Þorgilsson was Iceland's most prominent medieval chronicler. He is the author of Íslendingabók, which details the histories of the various families who settled Iceland...
, co-author of the first version of Landnámabók.
Family and childhood
Snorri's father Þorgrím was killed by his brother-in-law Gísli Súrsson, just before Snorri's birth. He was originally named Þorgrímr, but because he was a difficult child he was called Snerrir and then later Snorri, both names meaning a turbulent warlike person. His mother Thordis later married her late husband's brother Börkr the Stout, and moved to his property at HelgafellHelgafell
Helgafell is a small mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula of Iceland. The mountain is high, and a temple in honor of Þór was built there by the first settler of the area, Þórólfur Mostraskegg. Helgafell also appears in the Laxdaela saga as the location where the heroine Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir last...
.
Snorri was fostered by Þorbrandr of Álftafjörðr. When he was fourteen he and his foster brothers travelled to Norway where they traded successfully. Some time after coming back, Snorri demanded his inheritance from his uncle Bork. Bork would not divide Helgafell, and demanded 60 ounces of silver for the whole property. Snorri was able to produce this from his trading profits, and so he bought Helgafell from Bork. Thordis also decided to divorce Bork, and Bork was required to leave Helgafell.
Snorri married Asdis the daughter of Styr, after helping Styr to plan the killing of two Swedish berserks
Berserker
Berserkers were Norse warriors who are reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested in numerous Old Norse sources...
who were causing trouble for Styr and his family, whilst they were living in Styr's household.
Feuds with Arnkel and others
Thorbjorn the Stout, who was married to Snorri's half sister Thurid (the daughter of Börkr the Stout), accused Geirríðr, the sister of Arnkell Þórólfsson of witchcraft. Arnkell was a chief, and like Snorri one of the most influential men in the area. In the ensuing case Snorri and Arnkell each backed their own families, and Geirrid was cleared of the charge. Thorbjorn later on accused Geirríð's son Þórarinn the Black of stealing his horses. This led to a battle in which Thorbjorn was killed. Snorri pursued the case at the local assembly and had Þórarinn exiled.Snorri became involved in further disputes with Arnkell Þórólfsson. This included a property dispute between Arnkel and the Thorbrandssons. He and his foster brothers the Thorbrandssons attacked and killed Arnkel whilst he was working on his farm. In the ensuing court case, only one of the assailants Thorleif Thorbrandsson was sentenced to outlawry. This was blamed on the fact that all of Arnkel's heirs were female. This led to a change in the law that decreed that women (and men under sixteen) could not raise a manslaughter action.
Snorri later sided with the Thorbrandssons in their feud with the Thorlakssons. He took part in the battle of Alftafjord on their side, and rescued them after they were all wounded at the battle of Vigrafjord. A settlement was later reached between the two families.
Snorri also attempted to kill Bjorn Asbrandsson who was the lover of his sister Thurid. She was now married to Thorodd the Tribute Trader, a marriage which Snorri had helped to arrange. Bjorn fended off Snorri's attack, but was convinced to leave Iceland. Thurid's son Kjartan was suspected of being the son of Bjorn rather than Thorodd.
Later Years
When Iceland converted to Christianity in 1000, Snorri had a church built at Helgafell.After the killing of Bolli Þorleiksson
Bolli Þorleiksson
Bolli Þorleiksson was a key historical character in the Medieval Icelandic Laxdœla saga, which recounts the history of the People of Laxárdalur. He courted the famed Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, but Guðrún preferred his foster-brother Kjartan Ólafsson...
by the Olafssons, Snorri and Bolli's widow Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir
Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir
Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir was the historical protagonist of the Medieval Icelandic Laxdœla saga, which recounts the history of the People of Laxárdalur. She was famed for her beauty and was married four times. Her first marriage to Thorvaldr Halldorsson ended in divorce...
agreed to exchange properties so that she moved to Helgafell, and Snorri moved to Saelingsdale Tongue. Snorri later helped to arrange a peace agreement between the Olafssons and Guðrún's sons
Bolli Bollason
Bolli Bollason was a key historical character in the Medieval Icelandic Laxdæla saga, born around 1004. He grew up in Orlygsstadir, at Helgafell on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland...
.
Snorri also took action over the killing of his father-in-law Styr. The case against the killer was dismissed at the Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
by Thorstein Gislason. In retaliation, Snorri later killed Thorstein and his son Gunnar. This led to further battles between the kinsmen and allies of the two sides. The dispute was eventually settled at the local assembly.
In his later years Snorri successfully led the fight against Ospak Kjallaksson, a farmer who had assembled a gang who had taken to attacking and robbing his neighbours. Ospak and the other leaders of the gang were killed, and the rest made to disperse. Ospak's son was allowed to inherit his father's farm.
At the Althing which followed the burning of Njáll Þorgeirsson
Njáll Þorgeirsson
Njáll Þorgeirsson was a 10th century Icelandic lawyer who lived at Bergþórshvol and is one of the main protagonists of Njáls saga, a medieval Icelandic saga.Njáll was the son of Þorgeir "gollnir" Ófeigsson...
, Snorri supported Njal's kinsmen. When fighting broke out, Snorri stopped the retreat of Flosi Thordarsson and the other burners. Snorri and the Lawspeaker
Lawspeaker
A lawspeaker is a unique Scandinavian legal office. It has its basis in a common Germanic oral tradition, where wise men were asked to recite the law, but it was only in Scandinavia that the function evolved into an office...
Skapti Þóroddsson
Skapti Þóroddsson
Skapti Þóroddsson was an Icelandic lawspeaker and skald. He became lawspeaker in 1004, succeeding his uncle Grímr when the latter's voice failed him. He held office till his death in 1030, longer than anyone else...
, both then got their men to separate the two sides, and so stop the fighting. Afterwards Snorri was one of the men chosen to arrange a settlement between the two parties.
Descendants
Snorri had many children and was able to make marriage alliances with other leading families. For example his daughter Sigrid married the son of his former opponent Thormod Thorlaksson. His daughter Thordis married Bolli BollasonBolli Bollason
Bolli Bollason was a key historical character in the Medieval Icelandic Laxdæla saga, born around 1004. He grew up in Orlygsstadir, at Helgafell on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland...
. Snorri's descendents included the Sturlungs
Sturlungs
The Sturlungs were a powerful family clan in medieval mid-13th century Iceland, in the time of the Icelandic Commonwealth. Their story is partly told in Sturlunga saga, and members of the clan were significant participants in the civil war of the Sturlungaöld.The Sturlungs were extremely wealthy...
through his son Halldor.
In later fiction
Snorri Goði also features in Allen FrenchAllen French
Allen French was a historian and children's book author who did major research on the battles of Lexington and Concord, during the American Revolutionary War...
's historical novel The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, written in the early 20th century.
Primary source material
- Eyrbyggja saga, full text and English translation at the Icelandic Saga Database
- Laxdæla saga, full text and English translation at the Icelandic Saga Database
- Njál's saga, full text and English translation at the Icelandic Saga Database